Bribe lands DDA official in jail, to pay 30 times more

A bribe of Rs 300 has landed a DDA official in jail, besides having to cough up a fine which is over 30 times the illegal gratification amount

A bribe of Rs 300 has landed a DDA official in jail, besides having to cough up a fine which is over 30 times the illegal gratification amount.

HT Image

Special judge BR Kedia sentenced Dhirender Verma, section officer in DDA's horticulture division, to two-and-a-half years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him for demanding a bribe of Rs 300 in 2006.

In August 2006, one Dalip Kumar had lodged a complaint with the anti-corruption branch against Verma for demanding a bribe of Rs 300 for allowing him to reside at a pump house in DDA Park, Mayur Vihar, Phase II. Kumar deposed before the court that he along with his family was residing in the pump house as an officer of the horticulture department. The department had allowed him to stay there.

However, after he retired, Verma demanded Rs 200 for letting him live in the pump house, which he paid. In August 2006, Verma again demanded Rs 300 from him, which he agreed to pay the next day and went to lodge the complaint.

A trap was laid and Verma was caught accepting the bribe. "Dhirender Verma stands convicted for an offence punishable under sections 7 (public servant taking illegal gratification) and 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1)(d) (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act," the court said.